Death of a Hawker

Rating:
Summary: A Return to Form
Review: "Death of a Hawker" is the fourth book in Van de Wetering's Amsterdam Cop Series and is a return to top form after the somewhat disappointing second and third volumes (the first, "Outsider in Amsterdam" is magnificient, and the proper place to start reading this excellent mystery series).

Amusing, ruminating Amsterdam cops Detective Grijpstra and Sergeant de Gier are as much a part of the story as the mystery itself (this is typical of this series, although the detectives' observations were less a focus of the second and third books). In this mystery, Amsterdam's market square is beset by protests and riots over government-forced construction. Meanwhile, a wealthy hawker (an individual who sells items for profit in the market) is murdered in his apartment. The man's roommate is upstairs and his beautiful sister downstairs (it's a three room flat) and both claim to have heard nothing unusual, nor did they see anyone enter or exit the flat. Cops outside the flat (for riot protection) noticed nothing unusual either. Nevertheless, the victim's face has been smashed in by a heavy object. The question is: who did the smashing, how, and why?

Naturally, Grijpstra and de Gier are put in charge of the case and along with the aged Commissaris (their boss) they unravel the mystery. Along the way, they interview prostitutes, hawkers, importers, bar maids, attend a raucous party, and even fall in love (de Gier). The dialogue is amusing and insightful and the solution of the mystery is fairly clever (although not too complicated). This book is more similar to the first book in the series in that suspect interviews are more confrontational and Grijpstra and de Gier spend a lot of time offering their views (and complaints) on life.

Overall, a quick read--both humorous and mysterious. Highly Recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Zen what?
Review: Do not make this the first van de Wetering book you read.

It takes some getting used to, this mix of Buddhism, police procedural, Simenon-like psychonovel and bizarre imagination. In this book, those factors collide sharply. The solution the the pseudo-locked-room mystery is odd, at best. Mix in street riots and a strange interlude where police do a most unconvincing undercover act and the reader who expected something like the 87th Precinct transplanted to Amsterdam will be baffled by the strength of the cover blurbs. Praise for this?

But if you've already become familiar with the characters, you know these books aren't so much about the plot as the people and the mood. Read a few others first (make sure you start with the good ones, the ones based in Amsterdam) and then move on.

Rating:
Summary: Riots, philosophy, unhappy marriage, and Amsterdam
Review: Interesting and atmospheric book. I don't know if mysteries written by foreign authors just sound more intelligent or really are, but the effect remains regardless of the reason. These detectives, Grijpstra and de Gier, really come alive in these books. They have a warts and all kind of approach not only about their own personalities, but also the personalities of their friends and family members as well that I really like. Almost incidentally, van de Wetering makes you very interested in the ultimate whodunnit. As an American living in the Netherlands, I also appreciate the view of Amsterdam.